Unemployment slightly higher

19/02/2009 15:00

In the period November 2008-January 2009, seasonally adjusted unemployment in the Netherlands stood at 304 thousand. This is 3 thousand more than in the preceding three-monthly period.

Among young people and 25 to 44-year-olds, unemployment was slightly higher than one year previously, but still 10 thousand down on the period November 2007- January 2008. The decrease was caused by a substantial drop in unemployment among 45 to 64-year-olds.

An average of 3.9 percent of the total Dutch labour force were unemployed in the period November 2008-January 2009. This percentage is in the same order of magnitude as one year previously.The highest unemployment rate was recorded among young people. In the 15 to 24-year age group, 8.4 percent were looking for jobs. The corresponding figures for the age categories 25-44 and 45-64 were 3.2 and 3.4 respectively.

After years of decline, unemployment is again rising marginally. Consumers anticipate a further increase. In February 2009, an astonishing nine out of every ten consumers expect unemployment to rise in the next 12 months, according to the Consumer Confidence Survey.